Our weekly selection of
hockey moves that leave us scratching our heads. Started back in 2007, HotW was
an institution around these parts or years. As research time became more
scarce, we let it lapse, but by the grace of a Gordie Hull Hat Trick, it's
back!

We don't recommend that any of these feats be attempted at home,
nor do we suggest that you you these fine folks as role models for your
children.

The
untimely passing of New York Rangers top draft pick Alexei Cherepanov was was
shadowed by the untimely request by the Rangers to be compensated for
Cherepanov following his death. Rangers GM Glen Sather believes that the
Rangers should receive the 17th selection in the second round of June's draft
as compensation for losing Cherepanov, the 17th overall selection in the 2006
Draft who died in Russia on Oct. 13 while playing for Omsk.

"At this
point, the league has taken no position on the Rangers' request," NHL deputy
commissioner Bill Daly told the New York Post. "The matter is in front of the
league's general managers, who will address the subject at their next meeting
in March. It's possible that the language of the CBA would need to be amended
to address situations such as this one. If that's the case, then we would need
to negotiate that with the Players' Association."

"It seems now as if
that phrase is unintentionally precluding the deceased from being included as
eligible for compensation," Rangers assistant GM Cam Hope told The Post. "We
understand that this is a sensitive issue, but with all due respect to Alexei's
family and his memory, he is technically eligible to be drafted again next
year."

Technically eligible to be drafted again next year???? Omsk my
God, did he really say that?

"We are not attempting to capitalize on a
tragedy, but there would be no question regarding the Rangers' right to a
compensatory pick if Cherepanov had been revived and survived the incident and
were on life support ... If an unsigned player sustained a massive injury on or
off the ice, the drafting team would get a compensatory pick."

In other
news, Sather is rumored to be shopping his great grandmother's head stone to
granite wholesalers in the greater New York metro area.